Moisture resistant probiotic granule and methods of producing the same

Abstract

There is provided a probiotic microcapsule comprising a core comprising probiotic microorganisms; and a coating layer comprising a hybrid solid dispersion comprising an edible fatty molecule evenly dispersed within a water-soluble film forming polymer and an edible mediator, wherein said edible mediator is starch octenyl succinate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A probiotic microcapsule comprising:
 a core comprising probiotic microorganisms; and,   a coating layer comprising a hybrid solid dispersion comprising an edible fatty molecule evenly dispersed within a water-soluble film forming polymer and an edible mediator, wherein said edible mediator is starch octenyl succinate.   
     
     
         2 . The probiotic microcapsule of  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble film forming polymer is hydroxypropyl starch. 
     
     
         3 . The probiotic microcapsule of  claim 2 , wherein said probiotic microorganisms comprise  Bifidobacterium.    
     
     
         4 . The probiotic microcapsule of  claim 3 , wherein said edible fatty molecule is selected from the group including lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitate, palmitoleate, hydroxypalmitate, arachidic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, sodium stearat, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, hydroxyoctacosanyl hydroxystearate, oleate esters of long-chain, esters of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, esterified fatty diols, hydroxylated fatty acid, hydrogenated fatty acid (saturated or partially saturated fatty acids), partially hydrogenated soybean, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, aliphatic alcohols, phospholipids, lecithin, phosphathydil cholin, triesters of fatty acids, coconut oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, cacao butter; palm oil; fatty acid eutectics; mono and diglycerides, poloxamers, block-co-polymers of polyethylene glycol and polyesters or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The probiotic microcapsule of  claim 4 , wherein said edible fatty molecule is cocoa butter. 
     
     
         6 . The probiotic microcapsule of  claim 4 , wherein said edible fatty molecule is stearic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The probiotic microcapsule of  claim 1 , wherein said hybrid solid dispersion is a single hybrid solid dispersion. 
     
     
         8 . A method for preparing a microcapsule comprising:
 preparing a microcapsule core comprising  Bifidobacterium;      preparing at least one coating comprising low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) values comprising Hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) Cocoa Butter (CB) and Starch Octenyl Succinat; and   coating said core with said at least one coating.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein preparing at least one coating comprising
 preparing a 5% w/w solution of Hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) by adding HPS to heated distilled water (85-90° C.);   preparing a solution of Starch Octenyl Succinat (SOS) by adding SOS to heated distilled water and stirring continually until a homogeneous clear solution is obtained;   pre-melting Cocoa Butter (CB) while stiffing using a mechanical stirrer to provide melted CB; and   homogenizing said SOS solution and said melted CB into said 5% w/w solution of HPS using a homogenizer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein pre-melting said Cocoa Butter (CB) is performed at 50° C.